Carnation named Stanarthur

ABSTRACT

A new carnation variety having blooms of medium size and abundant petalage which is generally of an almost white color and is marked near its outer end by dark red stripes of various lengths which gives the fully opened bloom a startling and very unusual overall variegated cream and red coloration, the plant itself having an upright growth habit with good strength and an abundant production of foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new variety of carnation was discovered by me in 1976 as a sport ofthe variety "Londorga" being grown in greenhouse, for commercialpurposes, at Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. This new plant was discovered byme in 1976 and its unusual coloration prompted me to propagate the plantby means of cuttings, which I did at Aalsmeer where I carried on suchpropagation through several successive generations and over a period ofyears and thereby found that the distinctive and novel characteristicsof this new variety would hold true from generation to generation andappeared to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new carnation variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows the nature of the blooms in full color, theprincipal figure being a three-quarter view of a mature bloom and theother views being partial face views of companion flowers, all of whichillustrate the general characteristics of the blooms of this variety,the colors shown being as nearly true as it is reasonably possible toobtain by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new carnation plant basedupon observation of greenhouse plants made at Aalsmeer, The Netherlands,in the summer of 1983, the color designations being according to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport.

Parentage: The carnation "Londorga".

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus caryophyllus Hybrid.

Commercial.--Greenhouse carnation.

Form: A tall bush.

Height: Normal.

Growth habit: Sturdy and upright with good strength and normal branchingcharacter.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Number of leaves.--Vary according to season.

Size of leaf.--Average.

Shape.--Oblong.

Texture.--Smooth.

Color.--Both upper side and under side -- Blue/Green with waxy layer.

THE BUD

Size: Medium.

Diameter.--About 1.5 cm.

Length.--About 3 cm.

Form: Generally cylindrical with pointed apex.

Rate of opening: Normal.

Sepals: Of normal shape and number and the sepals curl back when theflowers open.

Color.--Inside -- Grey/Green. Outside -- Grey/Green.

Calyx:

Shape.--Funnel-shaped.

Size.--Medium.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Splitting.--The calyx rarely splits.

Flower stem:

Length.--Average.

Character.--Strong and erect.

Color.--Dark Green.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous.

Size of bloom: Medium.

Diameter.--About 8 cm.

Depth.--About 4 cm.

Borne: Singly.

Shape:

When bloom first opens and as it matures.--High centered.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--From 50 to about 60.

Arrangement.--Loosely imbricated.

Form.--Fan-shaped with serrated to almost dentated margin.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Shiny.

Color.--All petals: Upper side -- Body -- R.H.S. 157C. Base -- PaleGreen. Reverse side -- R.H.S. 157C. Marginal stripes -- Red. The colorsare the same for all seasons.

Flower stem:

Length.--Varies according to season.

Character.--Strong and upright.

Color.--Dark Green.

Fragrance: Slight.

Persistence: The petals hang on and dry.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--About 20 days.

As cut flower.--From 10 to about 15 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Of average number and arrangement.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Cream.

Pollen.--There is no pollen.

Pistils:

Number.--One.

Style.--Length: Approximately 27 mm. Color: White/Cream.

This carnation most nearly resembles its parent "Londorga" (unpatented)in substantially all of its physiological characteristics except thecolor of its blooms and the fact that the new variety is lesssusceptible to Fusarium oxysporum.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct carnation variety, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by its continuous production of medium sized blooms of almost white color variegated by longitudinal stripes appearing at the outer ends of most of its petals and its apparent resistance to Fusarium oxysporum. 